UCSF is an institution of higher learning where tomorrow’s leaders in the life sciences, health care and health policy receive high-quality education and training. By recruiting the top faculty members, students, residents, and staff nationwide, UCSF — a community of the best and the brightest — sustains its reputation for excellence in education, discovery, and clinical care.

At UCSF, our learners approach health care challenges with critical thinking and a spirit of inquiry. As tomorrow's health and science leaders in training, UCSF students embody our passion for advancing the health of our communities.

Our learners train across the specialties in leading national accredited and non-accredited programs, across the specialties; graduates are enrolled in interdepartmental degree programs in basic and translational sciences, social and population sciences and clinical sciences.

Breadcrumb

MD Competency Milestones

The School of Medicine curriculum provides a set of educational experiences designed to support students’ mastery of the core knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to achieve their goals as 21st-century physicians, researchers, teachers, and public servants. Throughout the curriculum, medical students’ achievement of these competencies is assessed through a variety of methods that constitute a program of assessment. This coordinated and integrated approach provides frequent feedback and practice so that students have the information they need to advance their learning. In addition, there are periodic high-stakes assessments that ensure that students are ready to advance to the next stage in their training.

The UCSF MD Program requires students to achieve competence as defined by the program objectives in the seven competencies listed below. For each competency, a set of milestones defines the expected progress throughout medical school and upon graduation. All students achieve core competencies, with Bridges Curriculum Milestones elaborating topics such as inquiry and systems improvement.

PC1 F2. Gather complete and focused histories from patients, families, and electronic health records in an organized manner, appropriate to the clinical situation and the individual, interpersonal, and structural factors that impact health

PC1 (graduation). Gather complete and focused histories from patients, families, and electronic health records in an organized manner, appropriate to the clinical situation and the individual, interpersonal, and structural factors that impact health

PC2 F1. Perform basic elements of a physical exam relevant to clinical presentation and patient concerns and identify common abnormalities, with attention to patient comfort

PC5 (graduation). Perform common procedures safely and correctly, including participating in obtaining informed consent, following universal precautions and sterile technique, and attending to patient comfort

PC6 F1. Contribute to a team-based approach to managing patients with acute or chronic illness or preventive health needs, and perform systems tasks for patients within a clinical microsystem

PC6 F2. With appropriate supervision, manage patients with acute and chronic illness in the inpatient and ambulatory setting, and recognize patients' need for services to address their medical and social needs

PC6 (graduation). Manage patients as part of a team, including prioritizing patient care tasks efficiently to provide high-quality care that addresses their medical and social needs

Medical Knowledge

Foundations 1
(through December of 2nd year)

Foundations 2
(through December of 3rd year)

Graduate will be able to ...
(Graduation Milestone)

MK1 F1. For the UCSF 49, establish and maintain basic knowledge necessary for patient care that addresses the maintenance of human health and the etiology, pathogenesis, and manifestations of medical problems

MK1 F2. For the UCSF 49, continue to establish and maintain knowledge necessary for patient care that addresses the maintenance of human health and the etiology, pathogenesis, manifestations, treatment, and management of medical problems

MK1 (graduation). For the UCSF 49, establish and maintain knowledge necessary for the preventive care, diagnosis, treatment, and management of medical problems

MK2 F1. Demonstrate curiosity, objectivity, and a recognition of the limits of medical science in acquisition of knowledge

MK2 F2. While recognizing the limits of medical science, apply an inquiry-oriented and analytic approach to learning and patient care

MK2 (graduation). Through an inquiry-oriented and analytic approach to learning and patient care, develop and implement approaches for generating and applying new knowledge, including an individual course of study that emphasizes inquiry, discovery, and dissemination

MK3 F1. For the UCSF 49, identify the range of diagnostic testing available and be able to articulate the factors that determine when a given diagnostic test is appropriate

MK4 F1. Reason through basic clinical problems using a systematic approach that includes problem representation, generation of problem lists and hypotheses, and construction of prioritized differential diagnoses

MK4 F2. For the UCSF 49, solve clinical problems using a systematic approach that includes problem representation, generation of problem lists and hypotheses, and construction of prioritized differential diagnoses

PBLI2 F1. Seek, reflect on, and respond to one’s own performance data, and recognize and reflect on personal biases, identity, and privilege that can influence interactions

PBLI2 F2. Critically reflect on one's own performance to identify strengths and challenges, reflect on and address the impact that personal biases, identity, and privilege have on interactions, set individual learning and improvement goals, and engage in learning activities to meet those goals

PBLI2 (graduation). Critically reflect on one's own performance to identify strengths and challenges; reflect on and address the impact that personal biases, identity, and privilege have on interactions and decision-making; set learning and improvement goals; and engage in learning activities that address one’s gaps in knowledge, skills, and/or attitudes

PBLI3 F1. Employ strategies for seeking, receiving, acting upon, and delivering feedback as a member of a classroom, research, project, or clinical workplace team

PBLI3 (graduation). Employ strategies for seeking, receiving, acting upon, and delivering feedback, and contribute to a culture of openness to and appreciation of feedback

Interpersonal and Communications Skills

Foundations 1
(through December of 2nd year)

Foundations 2
(through December of 3rd year)

Graduate will be able to ...
(Graduation Milestone)

ICS1 F1. Communicate with patients, families, peers, and other team members of diverse backgrounds, languages, cultures, and communities using strategies that build rapport and promote inclusion and equity

ICS1 F2. Communicate effectively with patients, families, peers, and other team members of diverse backgrounds, languages, cultures, and communities using strategies to build therapeutic alliances, promote inclusion and equity, and ensure understanding

ICS1 (graduation). Communicate effectively in interpersonal and electronic communications with patients, families, peers, and other team members of diverse backgrounds, languages, cultures, and communities using strategies to build alliances, promote inclusion and equity, and ensure patient, peer, or other team members’ understanding

ICS2 F1. Participate in discussion of sensitive and difficult topics with patients and families under direction of supervisors

Pro3 (graduation). Balance the needs of patients and healthcare team with one's own needs

Pro4 F1. Understand one's role and seek supervision and feedback as needed in small group and clinical settings

Pro4 F2. Navigate the balance of autonomy and need for supervision

Pro4 (graduation). Recognize the need for additional help or supervision and seek it accordingly

Pro5 F1. Demonstrate punctuality and preparedness as well as display professional dress, hygiene, language, demeanor, and behavior during work hours appropriate to the activity

Pro5 F2. Demonstrate accountability and reliability, including initiative, responsiveness, and follow-through, in interactions with patients, families, and colleagues in interpersonal and electronic communications, including electronic health records

Pro5 (graduation). Demonstrate accountability and reliability, including initiative, responsiveness, and follow-through, in interactions with patients, families, and colleagues in interpersonal and electronic communications, including electronic health records

Pro6 F1. Practice ethically with integrity and commitment to social justice, including maintaining patient confidentiality, responding to medical errors and healthcare disparities, respecting patient autonomy, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and using electronic communications, including social media, appropriately

Pro6 F2. Practice ethically with integrity and commitment to social justice, including maintaining patient confidentiality, responding to medical errors and healthcare disparities, respecting patient autonomy, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and using electronic communications, including social media, appropriately

Pro6 (graduation). Practice with a commitment to ethical principles, social justice, and societal needs, including maintaining patient confidentiality, responding to medical errors and healthcare disparities, respecting patient autonomy, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and using electronic communications, including social media, appropriately

Pro7 F1. Adhere to institutional, regulatory, and professional standards and administrative expectations; personal, patient and public safety (infection control, reporting requirements); and professional identification

Pro7 F2. Adhere to institutional, regulatory, and professional standards and administrative expectations; personal, patient and public safety (infection control, reporting requirements); professional identification; and maintaining ethical behavior in research and relationships with industry

Pro7 (graduation). Adhere to institutional, regulatory, and professional standards and administrative expectations; personal, patient, and public safety; adhere to principles of ethical research; and manage conflicts of interest

Pro8 F1. Recognize one's stress and respond appropriately, including using resources to promote wellness and maintain professional behavior

Pro8 F2. Recognize one's stress and respond appropriately, including using resources to promote wellness and maintain professional behavior

Pro8 (graduation). Demonstrate healthy coping mechanisms to respond to stress, including using resources to promote wellness and maintain professional behavior

Pro9 F1. Demonstrate awareness of and reflect on one's professional identity formation as a physician

Pro9 F2. Demonstrate ongoing reflection and learning about one's own professional identity formation

SBP3 F1. Engage in a systems-improvement intervention, using an appropriate framework for identifying needs and proposing systems solutions for panels or populations of patients

SBP3 F2. Incorporate understanding of strategies for promoting healthcare quality in various healthcare systems in generating care plans for patients

SBP3 (graduation). Participate in continuous improvement in a clinical setting, utilizing a systematic and team-oriented approach to improve the quality and value of care for patients and populations

SBP4 F1. Describe current and historical factors affecting health equity, including structural inequalities in access to and quality of health care

SBP4 (graduation). Understand current and historical factors affecting health equity, including structural inequalities in access to and quality of health care, and apply this understanding to improve patient health

SBP4 (graduation). Apply understanding of current and historical factors affecting health equity, including structural inequalities in access to and quality of health care, to improve the health of patients and communities

Interprofessional Collaboration

Foundations 1
(through December of 2nd year)

Foundations 2
(through December of 3rd year)

Graduate will be able to ...
(Graduation Milestone)

IPC1 F1. Incorporate understanding of one's own role and the roles of others (peers, physicians, other health professionals) into interactions in small groups and in the clinical setting

IPC1 F2. Incorporate knowledge of one’s own role in different teams and settings and the roles of other health professionals in providing patient care

IPC1 (graduation). Use the knowledge of one’s own role in different teams and settings and the roles of other health professionals to assess and address the healthcare needs of patients and populations

IPC2 F1. Communicate effectively and respectfully with others (peers, physicians, other health professionals) involved in small groups and in patient care

IPC2 F2. Communicate with other health professionals in a responsive and responsible manner that supports collaborative patient-centered care

IPC2 (graduation). Communicate with other health professionals in a responsive and responsible manner that supports a collaborative approach to the maintenance of health and the treatment of disease in patients and populations

IPC3 F1. Demonstrate respect for the cultures, values, roles, and expertise of other health professionals

IPC3 F2. Demonstrate respect for the cultures, values, roles, and expertise of other health professionals in diverse clinical settings

IPC3 (graduation). Work with other health professionals to establish and maintain a climate of mutual respect, dignity, diversity, ethical integrity, and trust